When should I use synchronized in Java?

When should I use synchronized in Java?

You should use synchronized in Java when you need to control access to a shared resource by multiple threads.

Can you give me an example of a situation where it's necessary?

Sure! If you have a bank account class where multiple threads can deposit or withdraw money, you should synchronize those methods to prevent inconsistent states.

What happens if I don't use synchronized in that case?

If you don't use synchronized, you might encounter race conditions, leading to incorrect balances or data corruption.

Are there alternatives to using synchronized?

Yes, you can use other concurrency mechanisms like ReentrantLock, or higher-level constructs like ExecutorService.